Abstract

This study aimed to describe chemotherapy utilization situation of breast cancer patients after NHSO cancer
protocol version 2010 had been launched. The 3,485 chemotherapy prescriptions of out-patient departments between
January to June 2010 were analyzed. The most common prescribed chemotherapy regimens were
Fluorouracil+Doxorubicin+Cyclophosphamide or FAC regimen (36.15%, 1,260 prescriptions),
Cyclophosphamide+Methotrexate+Fluorouracil or CMF regimen (16.15%, 563 prescriptions),
Doxorubicin+Cyclophosphamide or AC regimen (14.84%, 517 prescription), Paclitaxel (12.63%, 440 prescriptions),
Capecitabine (7.49% 261 prescriptions) and Docetaxel (4.88%, 170 prescriptions). Each cancer center was
significantly different in the utilization pattern due to the incidence of cancer type, hospital formularies and hospital
policy (p = 0.00). 92.14% of all chemotherapy prescriptions adhered to NHSO cancer protocol. The highest ratio of
adherence to cancer protocol was UC scheme (96.45%) and the lowest one was CSMBS scheme (75.50%). Each
health benefit scheme was significantly different in ratio of adherence to protocol (p = 0.00). The total cost of
chemotherapy regimen was 20,677,599 Baht. 16,704,514 Baht (80.79%) was the cost of adherence to protocol
prescriptions.